American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
-
Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialMaternal corticosteroids to prevent intrauterine exposure to hyperthermia and inflammation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Intrauterine exposure to hyperthermia at term is associated with adverse neonatal neurologic outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether prophylactic maternal corticosteroid treatment prevents fetal exposure to hyperthermia and inflammatory cytokines after epidural analgesia. ⋯ Prophylaxis with high-dose corticosteroids significantly reduces fetal exposure to hyperthermia and inflammation. However, maternal high-dose corticosteroids increase the rate of neonatal asymptomatic bacteremia. Stress-dose corticosteroid use in labor should trigger consideration of a screening neonatal blood culture.